Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity, but here in Santa Barbara County, it’s a chance to make a personal, local difference. At Noozhawk, we believe in the power of community and the impact that even small acts of kindness can have when directed close to home.
Our Good for Santa Barbara County Nonprofit Section is designed to connect you with local organizations doing vital work. Whether it’s a donation, a few hours of your time, or simply helping spread the word, your contribution matters.
Explore our Giving Guide today and help brighten the season for those who need it most!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Dodie Smith-McBroom, Development Director at Ice in Paradise, to learn more about the nonprofit’s vision of providing a wide variety of recreational ice-skating programs for all members of our community to enjoy at affordable prices within a state-of-the-art facility.
Ice in Paradise
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: Ice in Paradise, Our mission [as a non-profit organization] is to provide a wide variety of recreational ice-skating programs for all members of our community to enjoy at affordable prices within a state-of-the-art facility. We strive to deliver this within a safe, friendly and fun environment with unparalleled customer service.
Q: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
A: Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association DBA Ice in Paradise has been serving Santa Barbara and surrounding communities since 2015, and is celebrating its’ 10 Year Anniversary as of this past October! Ice in Paradise was founded by a group of avid ice skating enthusiasts and hockey players who recognized the need for a dedicated ice facility for the region. Some of the original founders, Jack Norqual, Kathy Mintzer, Steve Heinze among many others, aimed to promote ice sports by providing a safe, welcoming environment for skaters of all ages and skill levels.
Q: What motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: The founders recognized a significant gap in the availability of ice facilities in the Santa Barbara area, limiting opportunities for residents to engage in figure skating or hockey and other ice activities. Avid ice skaters and hockey players had to drive hours away to find facilities and Ice in Paradise aimed to create a local resource for them to hone their skills and engage their passion.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: Ice in Paradise relies on a combination of rink user fees, donor contributions and grants to support its operations and programming. As a non-profit organization, it actively seeks funding and partnership from individuals, local businesses, and community organizations that share a commitment to promoting ice sports and community engagement. Donors play a crucial role in providing financial support for maintenance, equipment costs, and the development of various programs and events.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: Ice in Paradise offers a diverse range of events and programs designed to engage the community while promoting a love for ice sports. Some of the programs include public skating sessions, learn to skate, figure skating programs, hockey leagues, hockey clinics, fundraising events and many seasonal events! We also have our Success Center, study room and STEM programs to ensure that we are also providing educational resources in addition to athletic ones.
Our programs are largely focused on rink users and do not typically contain fundraising appeals. Ice in Paradise’s fundraising is largely done separately from programs through direct appeals or grants along with occasional general campaigns to the whole community.
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: Very few ice rinks are non-profits so Ice in Paradise stands apart as a resource for the community rather than a profit focused business. Ice in Paradise uniquely combines a passion for ice sports with a strong commitment to community engagement. Our organization prioritizes creating an inclusive and accessible environment for individuals of all ages and skill levels to participate in which helps foster a sense of belonging through its programming.
Q: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: A fun fact about Ice in Paradise is that we host over 30 adult hockey league teams that compete throughout the week, seven days a week. This vibrant and active hockey community not only showcases the popularity of the sport but also fosters camaraderie and friendly competition among local players. With games or practices occurring regularly, Ice in Paradise serves as a hub for all ages not just children.
Q: How do you share your nonprofit’s impact and updates with the public?
A: Ice in Paradise regularly updates its website, blog posts and social media with news, photos and current events. We send out regular monthly newsletters highlighting rink activity and users. We are also always happy to answer anyone’s questions in person or over the phone.
Q: What makes your organization trustworthy for donors, and are there other ways people can support your cause beyond donations?
A: Ice in Paradise is considered a trustworthy organization for donors due to its transparent operations, commitment to community engagement, and proven impact. We undergo an annual non-profit audit to ensure we are meeting our fiduciary responsibility. Ice in Paradise also maintains strong partnerships with other trusted local entities such as the City of Goleta, local libraries and school organizations.
Ice in Paradise is always looking for volunteers to help with our events, our programs, and tutoring for our Success Center. The impact of our community’s volunteer time is just as important to us as monetary contributions. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact info@iceinparadise.org for more information.
Q: Can you highlight one immediate goal and one long-term vision your nonprofit aims to achieve in the next year?
A: After 10 years of operation several key pieces of our equipment and infrastructure are due for modernization. One of our immediate goals is to replace our Zamboni ice resurfacer which is a key component to providing all of our on ice programs.
Long term we hope to continue to be an affordable, accessible resource for people of all ages and skill levels in our community. Donor support allows us to maintain the quality of our facility and programs without having to rely on increasing user fees.
Q: Is there anything important or unique about your nonprofit that we haven’t covered yet?
A: Ice in Paradise is important not just for general community access but also for local school organizations such as the San Marcos Royals and UCSB Gauchos to be able to offer ice sports curriculum. Without a local accessible space those school athletic programs would not be as feasible.
Click here to support Ice in Paradise’s mission to provide a wide variety of recreational ice-skating programs for all members of our community to enjoy at affordable prices within a state-of-the-art facility.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
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